Combined vapor diffuser and ash tray



N if. 2 6 3 man s. 3 4 0 NWMMM w @,#ZHP/ wrWY 2 m 15mn 7.../ i am@ u nA MW m a@ LS Z M i .mf 9 4 EM l RWM, s LU h F HD M Wm d PQM Hum wm I B M o C July 15, 1952 Patented July 15, 1952 cOMBINED VAPOR. DIEFUSER AND QASH TRAY l l William Hl' W eelerI'New YorkgN;- John Max von. Bergen, Scotch Plains, N..-;T.,f and George Meek, Pelham, 3N. Y., assignors to, Airkem, Inc., New ,Yo1jk, N. Y., a.corporati9nof New The present :invention relates to an apparatus adapted to :perform dual functions of diffusing air tempering vaporsinto the surrounding atmosphere-and serving as anash tray inthe nor- :mal manner for receiving. refuse fromzcigarettes, -cigars, pip es andthelike.-` t i A general object ofthe present invention is toa-provide, such a combinedvapor diffuser-and .ash tray apparatus for `a tobacco smokers use, `whichincludes an ash-receiving bowl structure `for -burning cigarettes, cigars and pipes, or refuse therefrom, and associated :meanseffectively to deliver into the atmosphere around andabout theash-receiving bowl structure air freshening andbdor neutralizing vapors` from a .-body fof suitable yevaporable material contained inthe devcewhereby such .vapors may, when desired, combatv stale or unpleasant odorsin the room in which thev diffuser Ais located 'andv especiallyto combattobacco smoke 'andash or refusezodors and render them inoiiensiveV or unnoticeable,the device being capable of manipulation for control and adjustment Aof the rate'of diffusion of such air tempering vapors.

` Amore specific object of the invention is to rprovide such apparatus whereby, whenv desired, an ash-receivingbowl; may have risingabout the ysidesthereof vapors-of air freshening `and odor neutralizing qualities emanating circumambiently from bowl sub-structure whichcontains a supply of evaporable material of airtempering or odor lneutralizing and freshening quality, to assure effective counteraction of offensiveodors at their-source. 1: v

Afurther object of the invention istor provide in such'apparatus means whereby a plurality of vaporoutlets arranged circumambiently of an ashrreceiving-bowl structure ymay bei adjusted in size lfrom the closed: to fullyA opened positions by simple manipulation of the ibowl structure for desired-fcontrolot the rate of flowof the vapors emanating from the device into the surrounding atmQSphel Still another object of the invention is top rovidesvuch apparatus in the form of a diffuser superimposed by a rotatable ash tray whichmay .serve as an effective closure for the diffuser and which may berotated atwill to adjust the size of louver vapor outlets arranged about the tray.

`Av still further object of the vinvention-is to provide avstructural embodiment vof the apparatus which is readily and economically constructed and well adapted to commercial mass production while permitting efficient use and operation thereof. v'

tially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

f f yApplicationMaren 22, 1950,'fseria1No. 151,211

6 claims.' (o1. 2994-24) Other objects of the invention vwill in partbe obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.A

l Theinvention accordingly comprisesthe fea;- tures of construction, 'combinationv of velements and arrangement of parts, whichvwill be exemplied'in the construction hereinafter set forth,

and the. scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

` For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects ofthe invention, reference should'be had to the following detailed descriptionY taken in connection `with the accompanying drawing, in which: 'f i Fig. 1 is .-a perspective view of an embodiment 'ofthe' apparatus of the present invention showingxit in use with louver outlets thereof adjusted y to a'desired rate of lemanation of air freshening and odor neutralizing or tempering vapors automatically to combat offensive'fodors either from a burning cigarette supported'inthe ashtray portion thereof orin ever source; Y.

1 Fig. 2.'is va top plan vieW,xWith parts-broken away and' in section, of the apparatus shownin Fig.v 1, indicating the relative. position ofiparts When the diffuseris closed;v g

Fig. 3 is an elevational section taken'sub'stan- Figgi is a' side elevational view, with'par'ts broken away and in section, of the structure shown in Figs." 1, 2 and 3, but'proposing al modication of the bottom of the base structure.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals identify similar parts throughout, it=willbe seenr that' the embodiment ofl the apparatus shown by way of example in Figs. 1, 2 .and comprises a base member I0, a cover member. II including an ash tray element I2, and a source I3 of air tempering or freshening vapors.; In

the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2' and 3,- the base II) consists of a substantially cylindrical or circular wall I4 having an open bottom I5 and 'a lateral internal bottom flangeV -IB preferably made 'integral with the cylindrical Wall `and adaptedto form a'supporting ledge. The'cylindrical wall I4 of the base I0 is offset at I'I-to provide a circular supporting shoulder and a circular rim flange I8 therea'bove; That base structure is preferably formed of cast plastic material', but obviously can be formed of'any other suitable material, suchas metal; etc. v

The cover II is in the form of a slip top cover v.structure having'a downwardlydepending flange I9 adapted tov telescope over the rim flangeY I8 of the base structure I0 and with its lower edge the l room air from` what- -1 at the topi-thereof in a lateral'internalange 2| Von which is supported rim 22 of dished'tray I2.

That portion of cover I I which forms the depending flange I9 and the lateral supporting` A flange ZI is preferably made from castplastic or any other suitable material.u I2 is made in the commercial yembodiment from The dished trav transparent glass permitting.observation.,of'-the body of evaporable material therebeneath. This -thepresent invention.

construction permits the usegof coloredopaque plastic material in the formation of the side portions of the cover and the base for enhancing the appearance of the device while retaining the desired characteristic of permitting observation of the interior from the top through the tray,

which may be desirable `in order to apprise the vuser Vwhen depletion of the evaporable material has 'advanced'tofsuch' a degree as to make replacement` advisable; ".When the tray tI2 and the rem'a'iiiderofV the cover II. are madeas separate units; as indicated, the tray rim 22: may, if,` desired, becementedor otherwise suitably anchored tothe supporting flange 2l. However, it .will be understood that the tray portionY I2 Lcould' be made.. as' an integral part of the remainder of the cover II in the kcasting operation of the latter.Y

' The base Vstructure I0 and the cover tl are provided with suitable cooperating cut-outs to servejasfvapor outlets, which could be' alignable holes inthe base rim flange I8 and the cover de- 1 pending ange I9. "However, Vin the preferredl structure, such cut-'outsffor the base are in the vform ofspacednotches 213---23V in the rim ilange `I8 `to provide therebetweenv 'circumambiently 'spaced-,f upwardly-extending, curved or arcuate projectionsZII-ZG. The depending flange [9.0iy

cover I I is similarly notched at 25-25 to provide 'therebetween vcircnmambiently-spaced,` .downwardlyextending, curved or arcuate projections 2641-26.'. .As will bel seen.from Figs;52 and 3, the depending cover projections 26f-2 are at' least 4asvvide as, vand preferably wider than, the notches 23-23 in the base .flange I8 and the upstanding projections 244-24 of 'the latter are atleast. as

Wide.Y as, and preferably vwider than, notches 25-25' in the cover ange I9.

Thus. When the coverf'lt is oriented relative to the base strucjture'I'U-'by rotation of the proje'ctionsZ-Z of tllelformer onzthe shoulder Il of the latter to vthe-relative positions shown in Fig.V 2, the outlet -lo'uver meansV providedby the described structurefare substantiallyclosed so as to minimize vapor emanation fromthe interiorV of the base structure.' If the cover YII then be rotated the `vcover notches Y25-'25 to provide adjusted vapor 'outletsgzasf indicated in Fig: 1. Obviously thesizes of such louver vapor outlets may be ad- Y yJ'lus'tedI yat will Vby the extent to which the cover I I is rotated relative to the base structure I0 soA as Vto control in a predetermined manner the rate of 410W; of vaporl from the interior of the device.

As 4indicated vin Figs. 2 `and 3, the evaporable v material may `:be in the form of a scored. body 2'! Voi gel which may bea jelled variant of the air freshening composition` described in Paschal 'PatentfNCL 2,325,672' of August 10, 1943, for

Method and 'Composition for the Treatment of 4 Air. It will be obvious, however, that the body 21 of evaporable material may, if desired, be in the form of a liquid or such liquid evaporable material may be held in a sponge. The body of evaporable material 2I'or-suchfsponge saturated (with liquid evaporable/material vis suitably housed in a pan 28 having its circular bottom 29 'resting upon the supporting base flange I6. VIn

the commercial embodiment, the pan 28 forms the bottom` of a slip top can structure in which the evaporable material may be shipped, with the "slip top cover thereof suitably removed at theV time the "un-it I3is loaded into the apparatus of .base structure I0 with' the slip top tray cover Il removed. vThereafter the cover.` I` I' is replaced on the base: structure I0 inthe manner indicated' in the drawing, andv the former's rotatedlrelative tothe latter to align portions of 'the' notches 23-23 and 25-25 to formvapor outletsas'indicated in Fig. -l. The structure thus operates as Ya diffuser with vapors rising circumambiently fo'f the ash tray I2. The latter is usedV as an ashreceiving bowl in the'usual manner, as indicated by the lit cigarette aty 330- in Fig. As aconsequence, if any odoriferous material fromw'hi'ch Yoilensve vapors, fumes or smoke may emanate are. disposed in or supported on the'tray I2',l such as aburning 'cigarette as depicted at130, burning -ziga'rs,Y ashes, dead butts, pipe heels, etc`.-,'fsuch offensive vapors, fumes or smoke and air freshening and odorv neutralizing vapors will be closely fassoci'ated: and diffuse together into room'airso innocuous atY their source..

that the neutralizingfand freshening vapors counteract orl render the offensive fiunesl inoensive 'or As-indicated in'Fig. 4,' the apparatus of Figs. .1, 2 and 3 may be modified by closing off-.the bottom of the base structurel!) with a! circular vbottom I S04-'so lthat thebase structure isin` th'e form a similar manner. v f f AVIt will thus be seen that objects setforth above,

. among those made apparent-from the preceding :invention which,Y as a matter of i be Vsaidto fall therebetween.

description, are eiciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above conf `struction and different embodiments of theinvention could' be made without departing from-the scope thereof, it is intended thatI all matter containedjjin the above description or shown in the accompanying` drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative andv not in `a limting sense. f'

,11:1 is'aiso to be understdodthat the following 'claimsare intended to cover' all ofthe generic and specific features of the invention-herein described; and all statements ofv the scope'o'f the language, might Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Anv air-freshening ash tray apparatus comprising, in combination, an open-top base means for containing vapor'emanating material having a circular, upwardly-extending rim provided With at leas't'oneY side' cut-out to serve as a lateral vapor outlet: and a doWnwardly-dished, raisedside, substantially imperforate ash trayt'op of appreciable smoking debris capacity having a circular, downwardly-projecting ilange rotatably to telescope with said rim for rotatable support of said tray top on said base means and closure of the latter, said flange having at least one side cut-out to be brought to a desired angular degree of alignment with respect to the cut-out in said rim with rotation of said top to provide an adjustable lateral louver vapor outlet of desired size.

2. The air-freshening ash tray apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by the formation of the tray portion of said top from transparent material to permit observation of the interior of the apparatus.

3. The air-freshening ashtray apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by the provision of said base means as a cylindrical wall provided with lateral support means extending` inwardly, and a cylindrical open top cup'disposed within said wall and resting on said support means.

4. The air-freshening ash tray apparatus as dened in claim 1 characterized by the provision of said tray top as a slip-top cover having its central, laterally extending portion dished downwardly to serve as an ash receiver with its flange being of greater diameter than said rim to telescope down over the latter and with bothvsaid flange and rim notched to provide the louver cutouts therein.

5. An air-freshening ash tray apparatus comprising, in combination, a cylindrical base wall structure having an inwardly-extending, lateral portion at its bottom to serve as a support, an upwardly-extending rim notched at intervals to provide louver outlet notches, andan exterior circular shoulder at the bottom of said rim; an open-top, cylindrical cup for evaporable material disposed in and resting on said lateral portion; and a circular, closing, slip-top cover having its central lateral portion dished to provide an ash receiver and a downwardly-projecting ange circumambient of said dished portion telescoped over said rim and rotatably resting on said shouldersaid ange being notched at similar intervals to provide louver notches complementary to the louver notches in said rim whereby together they serve to provide a plurality of adjustable louver Vapor outlets circumambient of said ash receiver with relative rotation of said cover and base.

6. An air-freshening ash tray apparatus comprising, in' combination, an open-top cylindrical base structure having a circular side wall and adapted to contain Vapor emanating material, support means on the upper portion of said side wall arranged circumambie'ntly therearound, an ash tray superstructure having a dished depression of appreciable smoking debris capacity circumscribed by an upwardly-extending side wall, said superstructure being rotatably mounted on said support means for turning through at least a limited radial angle substantially about the vertical axis of said base structure and serving as a vapor-confining closing top for the latter when turned to one position of rotary orientation, said Y superstructure having a plurality of vapor outlets arranged about and laterally outward of the dished debris-receptive depression to deliver air .freshening vapors into the atmosphere circumambiently thereof, and means on said base structure fixed relative to said rotatable superstructure providing a closure for each of said vapor outlets when said superstructure is in the vapor-confining position of rotary orientation with the outlets being unblocked by said closure means when said superstructure is turned away from that closed position.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER.

JOHN MAX voN BERGEN.

GEORGE W. MEEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,732,028 Reiner Oct. 15, 1929 2,383,960 Dupuy Sept. 4, 1945 

